"Up and coming GRAYS FERRY"

This is a area, that is a perfect match for a Drexel or Penn student. The houses are being rehabbed beautifully hard wood floors, granite countertops, large bedrooms, newly tiled bathrooms. Close enough to the universities that one can easily walk or ride a bike. And so close to the river trail with the amazing board walk and riding trail. A fraction of the cost of renting on Drexel or Penns campus- where there is also bad housing units, crime, and stray cats. The people are friendly and want their neighborhood to be rehabbed. So tell your friends, and watch as this neighborhood develops into the next "hot spot" in Philly to live for university students.

"No neighborhood has more potential"

Talk with anyone about Grays Ferry, and they usually will say or will agree with anyone who says, "This area has so much *potential*." Yes, its problems are monumental. Alcoholism and addiction are high here. But the close knit feeling -- at least among the Catholics who live in the area (sorry; my experience is only with them) -- that people talk about in reverent tones in ages past still exists to some degree. The people at St. Gabriel Church are wonderful. The pastor there has a dream of neighborhood revitalization, and parishioners are doing things large and small to make that a reality. You walk around the area as I have and most people -- black and white -- will smile and give you a friendly hello (you'll have to make the first move, though).

As ugly as it is (the trash in some places metastasizes like weeds), there is much to love about this area. Maybe it takes looking at it through rose colored glasses, but it's there if you look.

Bottom line is this: A neighborhood is as good or bad as the people in it. By that standard, overall, this is a pretty good neighborhood because so many of the people are such wonderful souls.

Pros

Great people

Have never felt unsafe

Prominent police presence

quick access to the expressway/I-76

Affordable

Always parking

cheap rent

Cons

Drivers don't appreciate that you don't like their music as much as they do. Loud!

"Grays Ferry - Daylight Only!"

Grey’s Ferry is a neighborhood that exemplifies Philadelphia’s old reputation. Racial strife, gang bangers, and drug dealing still characterized the area. The only change is that high school girls are now on the corner as well as the boys. Suburbanites drive through the nearby freeways to quickly pick up their wares anonymously and travel home to safety.

Summertime when the heat is gritty can be the most dangerous time of year. Ethnic pride is high and the slightest insults can spark a flurry of gun fire. Strangers are viewed with suspicion. Numerous bars populate the corners.

Perhaps this is a fitting legacy as the area was born in war at the time of the Revolutionary War. To navigate the Schuylkill River a Floating Bridge was built by the British when they controlled the city. Eventually, George Gray took over the three ferry’s and in addition to his transportation business established both a tavern and an inn.

Recent city administrations have made a concerted effort to create peace in the area by tearing down the multi-story projects and paying significant attention to the local schools.

"Kind of icky"

Grays Ferry is a neighborhood located in Southwest Philadelphia. It is bound by 25th Street on the east, Grays Ferry Avenue on the north, Vare Avenue on the south and the banks of the Schuylkill River on the west. The section of Grays Ferry located to the west of 34th Street is locally referred to as The Forgotten Bottom.
The area is home to mostly African Americans and Irish Catholics. It has mostly row homes and a few apartment complexes. The area has a median household sale price of $98,000. It is one of the more affordable neighborhoods to live in because pockets of Grays Ferry suffer from high crime rates and extreme racial tension.
Grays Ferry is not one of the most attractive areas of the city, but it does offer some great shopping and restaurant opportunities. There are many large chain stores, including supermarkets, located along Grays Ferry Avenue right before the Grays Ferry Bridge.
In recent years, there has been a surge to revive the neighborhood and Grays Ferry has become a more appealing place to live. Many of the abandoned homes were torn down to create new affordable housing projects for the residents to live in.

PaulH2First of all , its SOUTH Philadelphia, not "Southwest". And the neighborhood has never been a great place with much to offer, me and my family have been from the neighborhood for generations. The black on white riots, the black on black crimes, the drugs in the neighborhood have took to many of my family members lives. Grays Ferry is not a nice area. 31st & Tasker is a hot spot and a block i recommend to stay away from. The gang violence is an outrage. Dont believe me see for yourself. Enter through 25th & tasker and try and make it out of 32nd & tasker on foot and tell me that neighborhood didnt have an impact on how you think on poverty,drugs, and crime.

2yrs+

jd4yea, anyone who's familiar with the area knows the difference between the SW and South Philly.

Mar 10, 2017

paula17jd4, unfortunately PaulH2 is somewhat nearsighted when it comes to this area of Phillyl! With "Pennovation" moving in, there's no doubt in my mind that this is the section of Philly to buy before prices reach an astronomical level. I'm a young professional.....is there an area that you would recommend where's prices are in the 120k-150k range? thanks

Aug 10, 2017

jd4HI Paula, Honestly I would recommend you find a realtor in your family or someone you have a relationship with because online answers will always be skewed. I would drive around the areas and shop in some of the stores to get a feel for what its like to live there.

I'll assume you want a fixed up house or at least average condition.

For 120k, Point Breeze is out.

You can find something for 170kish in a "safer" (i.e. take some precautions) place in Grays Ferry. If you're willing to step out to the middle of GF you can find something for 140kish. I wouldnt reccomend you go to the bottom of GF

Check these areas out:bottom of South philly (bigler and 23rd) (anything near pennsport) (west passyunk)bottom of north philly (anything a block north of girard-especially by 2nd or 3rd st)Port Richmond by the Fishtown border.Ucity or SW philly by baltimore ave and 52nd

"Stray Cat Central"

Grays Ferry is another one of those neighborhoods that you just pass through and avoid getting out the car if you can. It has a history of racial tension and a reputation of being of a crime riddled area. On more than one occasion friends of mine have been chased or threatened while passing through on their bikes. Though there has been a recent surge in renovations, with many people moving in from the Graduate Hospital area, most of the buildings are still very run down or abandoned. And a majority of residents are considered lower class or below the poverty line. If you like cats Grays Ferry would be the place for you, the streets are overrun with strays But if you’re not into seeing dead cats then avoid the area at all cost, every time I pass through I see at least one in the streets. The Schuylkill Expressway runs right through the neighborhood so it’s also pretty noisy with traffic during peak times. As far as public transportation there are a few bus routes that stop at designated areas. If you’re looking to shop or eat out your options are Pathmark, corner stores or The McDonald’s where rap superstar Ol’ Dirty Bastard was arrested in late 2000. Other than that I suggest you go elsewhere.